Chapter Fourteen
Casey's Point of View
Derek looked hurt, confused, and desperate. Casey just wanted to hold him and comfort him, but she would not let herself feel guilty.
"What do you want me to say, Derek? You k...kissed me. You can't tell me it was something special. I'm not one of those girls that chase you around hoping you'll talk to them. You don't think of me as anything different than the last girl you kissed, Derek, and you know it."
"But, Casey, that's not true." Derek looked even more hurt. Casey fought back tears.
"Save it, Derek." She said and turned over on her bed, her back now facing him.
"I only did it to get you to shut up anyway, so don't flatter yourself." Derek said and walked out, slamming the door behind him. Casey burst into tears, but kept her sobbing silent. She only wished everything she said wasn't true.
Derek's Point of View
Why do I even try? Girls come to me, not the other way around. Casey's just stuck-up. She's too difficult anyway, let some other guy deal with her. His thoughts were mean; he was trying to convince himself that he didn't care. He wasn't doing a very good job of it. He glanced at his cell phone sitting on his desk and picked it up. His fingers paused over the keys before quickly typing out a message and sending it. He heard the familiar intro to 'Bittersweet Symphony' coming from Casey's room, indicating that she had gotten his text message. He held his breath, waiting for her to do something, text him, call him, come and talk to him. He didn't care, as long as she did something. Five minutes later he was still waiting. It drove him absolutely nuts.
Casey's Point of View
Casey stopped crying when she heard one of her favorite songs fill her room. She wiped her eyes with one of her hands and crossed her room to her desk where her cell phone was ringing. She picked it up. 'NEW TXT MESSAGE – Derek' read the screen. She took a deep breath and pressed the 'OK' button.
I knew you wouldn't talk to me in person, but hopefully you'll answer this. I can't tell you I've changed, you wouldn't believe me, and I wouldn't believe me either. But you make me want to change, and I will try, if you'll let me. I don't hate you Case, and I just want you to give me a chance to prove that to you.
The tears started flowing again. Casey didn't know what to do. She read the text over and over again until she had it almost memorized. She knew what she had to do. She wiped her tears with her hand again and walked across the hall to Derek's room.
He still sat at his desk, staring at his phone like an idiot. When she opened his door he turned to look, ready to yell at Edwin, but when he saw it was her, his face became blank. He didn't know how to act. She closed the door behind her, crossed the room and crawled into his lap, clinging to his neck. She
started crying again. He wrapped his arms around her, partly to keep her from falling off the chair, and partly to comfort her. He rested his head on her shoulder and stroked her hair, making soothing noises.
"Casey," he said after a while. She didn't respond, but just clung tighter.
"Casey, I…I think I love you." The words sounded foreign on his tongue. He'd only said it twice before, and neither time he meant it. He'd never said it first.
She pulled away from his neck and stared at him, searching his eyes for the truth. His eyes begged her to believe him. "I think I love you too, Derek." She gave him a small smile and he grinned broadly. She leaned forward and lightly pressed her lips against his, testing. He kissed her back, gently, not wanting to scare her. She smiled into his kiss and he deepened the kiss. They went on like that for what seemed like several minutes to the eavesdroppers outside Derek's door.
After a while, Casey got off Derek's lap and headed towards his door. He rolled his desk chair after her, grabbing her wrist, "Do you have to go?" He asked, giving her a puppy dog face. She giggled, "Yes. People will start to get suspicious."
Derek pouted, "So." Casey laughed again and he stood up out of his chair and walked over to the door, "Alright, promise you'll come back?" Derek asked, still pouting. Casey nodded enthusiastically. Derek opened his door and two figures fell into the room. They had obviously been leaning against the door.
"EDWIN!" "LIZZIE!" Derek and Casey shouted together. Lizzie and Edwin stood up quickly. Derek looked as if he could kill them but Edwin only smiled, "It's about time, eh Liz?" Lizzie giggled. Edwin held his hand out to Lizzie and she stopped giggling and groaned, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a crumpled ten. She put it in his hand and they both started laughing again.
"You had a bet going about this?" Casey asked, glaring at them.
"Well, it's been like a month. You two are absolutely oblivious." Lizzie said, crossing her arms.
Derek and Casey shot a glance at each other, "We're not oblivious!" They said together.
The four of them started to laugh, "Told you," Edwin said between chuckles.
"Guys," Derek said, suddenly serious. "You two can't tell…anyone."
Lizzie bumped shoulders with Edwin, "Don't worry about it. Our lips are sealed."
Edwin frowned and turned to Lizzie, "We could have gotten something out of them for making us keep their secret you know. You're an awful negotiator."
"And you're an awful brother." Lizzie countered.
"No, you both are great. Just wonderful." Casey said, smiling and pulling them both into a hug.
The four of them heard Nora and George climbing the stairs, "Time for dinner!" Nora shouted. When she reached the top of the stairs, she furrowed her brow at the four of them standing together.
"Get out of my room, doofuses." Derek said, putting a scowl on his face.
"Der-EK!" Casey said, catching on to Derek's plan.
"Especially you, Spacey." He said, growling.
She narrowed her eyes at him and let out an 'UGH!' of frustration. Nora and George rolled their eyes, thoroughly sick of the fighting, but used to it. "Just come downstairs for dinner, and stop fighting!" George said to them. As soon as their backs were turned, Derek winked at Casey and she smiled. They followed Lizzie and Edwin down the stairs for dinner, finding every excuse to bump up against each other.